352 THE RED DEER OF EXMOOR. 



feed is a good thing, as it acts directly on the mucous 

 membrane and skin. As a cure the simplest thing 

 is to sponge over the places with a mild disinfectant, 

 such as Condy's Fluid, and give three or four ounces 

 of Epsom salts in a mash, and some bi-carbonate of 

 soda with the feed. 



Any compactly built, active, well-bred horse in 

 condition will soon learn to cross Exmoor as cleverly 

 as a native, particularly if he is walked at exercise 

 over deep heather, and among stones, and allowed 

 to put his feet into a turf pit and a soft place or 

 two, and find out for himself how unpleasant, but 

 how easily avoided they are, when he is not flurried 

 •or excited. A week's exercise ought to be sufficient 

 schooling for any horse except one taken straight 

 out of training on the flat ; they have been so long 

 accustomed and encouraged to go close to the ground 

 that they take a longer period of hack riding before 

 they can be trusted to pick their feet up when asked 

 to go along. 



There is no real difference in principle between 

 riding to staghounds on Exmoor and riding to any 

 other hounds elsewhere. Every good rider will wish 

 to be " with them " as near as he can, and a resolute 

 man properly mounted will rarely fail, but there are a 

 few points to remember in which hunting on Exmoor 

 differs in practice from other hunting. No one can 

 hope to keep for long as close to hounds as it would 

 be his aim to do in a grass country. Hounds cross 

 the combes where the deer go, and many combes 



